Carrom: Federation hit by new ministry rule

The Annual General Meeting of the Carrom Federation of Sri Lanka was held on March 30, 2015 at the C.F.S.L. Premises at Maharagama at 6.00pm.   Due to the amended Sports Law that any federation or Association officials are not permitted to contest at the AGM if they had held on to any post for four years.   Small Federations like carrom, chess who are having a small number of member associations are sure to find things difficult to carry on without the services of the experienced officials.   These federations even find it difficult to find a sponsor as this sports disciplines are not crowd pullers.   If officials of any company are not permitted to hold on to their posts for more than one or two terms and complete new comers were asked to take over the management what would be the outcome?   This applies to everybody, Cabinet, Parliament, Corporations State Institutions etc.   The law as interpreted by the Attorney General should be for mega sports like Cricket, Football, Athletics, Rugby, Netball etc. where a lot of money and sponsors are involved.   In these Federations people are fighting to compete for these posts for monetary and other benefits whereas in Carrom the federation finds it difficult to get even a quorum sometimes.   As per the Sports Law introduced by the Ministry of Sports none of the earlier officials contested the key posts viz. General Secretary, Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Asst. Secretary and Asst. Treasurer.   They are all council members helping out those in the key posts and doing silent work since the work and activities of the Federation has to be continued non-stop since this Federation which has brought World, Asian and SAARC titles over the years.   A little lapse or lull in the game will create endless problems for the players who need to play continuously to maintain consistency.   The incumbent President M.D.N. Gunatilleke remains as President since he was there only for one term.   The officials were nominated to the respective posts and council members unanimously were:   President: M.D.N. Gunatilleke   Chief Executive Officer: Rohini Mathiasz   General Secretary: D.L.N. Jayatilleke   Vice Presidents: Wing Commander .V.T.S. Sirimanne, Leela de Silva, U.N. Perera, Naushad Haq   Treasurer: M.G.N. Premasiri   Tournament Secretary: Langley Mathiasz   Asst. Secretary: Hema Perera   Asst. Treasurer: Ruwan Menaka Peiris   Council members: Feedo S.C., Electro S.C., Air Force SC, Poruthota SC, Raddolu SC, Carromites SC, Moratuwa University, Colombo Municipality, Woodlands SC and Schools Association.